The president and the chief executive of the Football Association of Wales have spoken for the first time about the death of Gary Speed, the national side's manager, whose body was found at his home on Sunday morning. The organisation has announced that a book of remembrance has been opened at the FAW offices in Cardiff, and an area outside has been set aside for a Garden of Remembrance.

Phil Pritchard, the president of the FAW, said that there will be a formal tribute to Speed but it is too soon to make any formal announcement. He also stated that Sepp Blatter, the Fifa president, and Michel Platini, the president of Uefa, have contacted him to offer their condolences.

Pritchard said: "Its been a tremendous shock to us all. Obviously Louise [Speed's wife] and the family are foremost in our thoughts. It takes a lot of taking in. The tributes to him are endless – we are going to miss him tremendously in Welsh football, the world in football is going to miss him. I've already had a personal communication from Mr Blatter, the president of Fifa, and from Mr Platini. That's the respect that he has."

Asked if it was too early regarding thoughts of any formal tribute Pritchard said: "Yeah. At the moment we're all still in shock. This came absolutely out of the blue. He really was such a nice genuine guy – I'm sorry in my heart that it's happened to Welsh football but I really do feel for the family, they'll be absolutely devastated. A very close family is Gary's and he always kept his family life to himself. I'm sure that they will need the time to grieve."

The FAW's chief executive, Jonathan Ford, told Sky that they have yet to begin the search for a successor to Speed. "I received a telephone call from police yesterday and I was in utter shock and disbelief," he said. "He was a model professional, a lovely guy, gregarious person. Players wanted to play for him, fans loved him. I put it down that 2014 was going to be his campaign.

"First and foremost our condolences must be with his family. The future we haven't even thought of. All we've done is cried. None of this makes sense. I don't know if we'll ever know. I've nothing to add and no further news."